Sri Lanka has finally got around to establishing a formalised mechanism to counter the cruel practice of ragging, which have long taken root in the Sri Lankan higher education system. While it has taken a long time for such a body to be constituted, it is commendable that the Government has moved, finally, to establish a National Anti-Ragging Committee. The committee is envisaged as a formalised body to address the long standing issue. However, one must ask, why many heads of faculty, and the Vice Chancellors / Chancellors of the 15 odd state Universities in Sri Lanka, did so little to address the scourge of ragging over the years? While many were hesitant to act, the brave few who did take action, were seldom thanked for it, nor were they supported by the many vocal education trade unions.

Ragging has a long, ugly and costly history in Sri Lanka, with it leading to deaths, suicide, rape, sexual, physical and mental abuse and much more. It has often been linked to politics within the high education establishment, and indoctrination into party ideologies. Many political parties, particularly the left leaning, and especially smaller parties which hold extreme left leaning views, still employ ragging through their minions in the universities to indoctrinate new generations of victims. Irrespective of the argument that ragging is done to unify students from different communities and make them as one, the reality is that it traumatises victims, and creates class distinction and hatred, all of which Sri Lanka, given her history, can do without. While the history of law enforcement agencies and university politics is dark and unfortunate, to use it to create a lawless zone within universities, where ‘ragging’ is made the norm and used as a tool to indoctrinate another generation, should not be permitted.

It is indeed disappointing that many who underwent ragging, and ‘ragged’ their junior batch mates, remain silent about the issue. The effects and fear of ragging has made many shun higher education, and pushed others to seek paid higher education overseas. There are many shortcomings in the Sri Lankan education system and protest by students and faculty on such are reasonable. However, the lack of will within the higher education establishment, and the Government over the years to put a stop to ragging, has given the inhuman practice an unwritten licence to flourish.

According to State Minister of Higher Education Suren Raghavan, the proposed national anti-ragging committee, established after a series of discussions, was held over a period of eight months. Addressing a press conference, the minister said that stakeholders discussed legal, social, structural, political and management issues which affect the practice of ragging. However, Raghavan stressed that the responsibilities lie primarily with the educators at the helm of the 15 universities. “We held discussions for about eight months and formed a new National Anti-Ragging Committee by looking at several angles including social, structural, and political and management. The Government can make laws and establish structural institutions by utilising all the available resources. But, the final responsibility lies with university lecturers and vice chancellors,” State Minister Raghavan stated. The Minister has a point, why has Sri Lanka not taken the administration of its higher education institutions to task about the ragging in the past? Are they not responsible for the lives and wellbeing of the young – impressionable citizens who are placed in their care?

While ragging persists, creating victims each day, it must be acknowledged that there has been some progress over the last decade, mainly due to more students, particularly girls, having the courage to come forth and report such incidents. Further, with wider press coverage on the issue, concealing it and getting away with it. Several victims have come forward and shared their stories, some have initiated legal action. It is the duty of academics, administrators, law enforcement and the state to uphold the law, and create a climate where those who seek higher education feel welcomed, free and safe to begin the next step of the journey. Practices like ragging should have no place in any educational institution.